Omaha daily bee., 1887-07-03
~ THE JEWELRY TRADE.
a Fair outlook For Good Fail Busi-

~ FUur OuLIOOk FOr u uOOu uh DUST
ness.
New YORK, July 2.-fSpecial TO the BEE.
The jewelry trade Is well adapted by reason
of its nature and necessities to serve as an
index to the general prosperity of the whole
country. No trade Is more affected by good
crops and an easy money market, and none
reflects more quickly the depressing influence
Of hard times. During recent years retail
Jewellers have displayed more conservatism
in purchasing their supplies than formerly.
Instead Of laying In large stocks, some of
which they would be obliged to carry over
from one season to another, they have aimed
more to carry only such quantities as the
needs Of their customers would seem to war
rant. The result of this policy was apparent
in last springs trade. Stocks throughout the
United States had become pretty we'll de-
pleted and as q consequence the sales by
manufacturers and jObbers exceeded those OF
one year ago for the same period
Quickened demand has tended to create o
feeling OF confidence all round. This. too,
in the face Of the fact that retail trade In the
sprin season Is Of trfling and ephomeral
character, seldom lasting lonG than five
or six weeks. Two important failures at
Chicago, one the Clapp & Davies affair." the
other the Weber -Rosenkranz, shattered con.
Z fidence for time, but the effect was not far
. reaching nor lasting. Both failures were
pretty bad ones, the Clapp & Davies espe-
cislly. New England manufacturers were
hit the hardest, but while the aggregate loss
firms that the shock was not as serious as 1t
otherwise would have been. No trade In the
country Is more prone to give long credits
and take chances on doubtful customers.
June ~ usually marks the opening of the
fall and holiday season on the part Of manu-
facturers and jobbers. Then the cheap
jewelry manufacturers from Providence. the
Attleboros and other parts Of New England,
and the gold goods manufacturers from New
ark ana elsewhere begin to drop into New
York with completed stocks of new designs.
to meet the jObbers and agents and place or
fully month earlier than there is any ne
cessity for, but the custom Is one that has
been observed for years, and is likely to con-
tinue indefinitely. The jObbers, almost
sarlier than it should by good rights.
trade Of the United States. A careful can
the fact that stocks on hand are smaller than
usual at this season and the leaders of the
market almost unanimously look forward to
Q fall trade that will exceed in volume that
propose at the outsetto place orders accord
ingly with the manufacturers. This will be
~ the case especially III the cheaper grades of
jewelry. Importers OF fine watch movements
are also placing larger orders.
1t Is q noteworthy fact that the low class
plated goods come chiefly from New Eng
land. The home of the shrewd, bargain
driving Yankee Is also the home of brass
-- colossal fortunes were coined there in this
branch of the trade. Goods, so cheap that the
cost OF production was mere trifie when con-
trasted with the selling price and profit
al INf}
> titles. Of late years all this is changed. A
p freer play of the competitive principle
- together with improved and cheapenad
methods OF manufacture have altered the
rock basis, until the manufacturers of cheap
4 .jewelry has come to mean meagre profits at
tended by deal OF uncertainty and conse-
quent risk. Many Of the wealthiest houses
i have made little OF late.
I Newark and New York City manufacture
: the greater part OF the gold jewelry. Only
last week the plant Of Of noted n manufacturing
from Providence to New York, for the rea-
= son as stated by the owners that some diff
Guilty was experienced at Providence In pro-
curing the to OF and
work. At New York this trouble will be
n II would seem as though bedrock prices
%sess sS Se D. csp ,spis viii
soon place cheap time piece on the market
In competition with the present low grade
movements and an already established New
England watch and clock company threatens
II competition is carried too far, to retaliate by
Offering the jeweiry trade of the United
States nickle watch that will retail at 81. with
. fair margin OF profit for the manufacturer,
Ideas in jewelry and time-pieces the idea for
the first low priced watch manufactured In
America was stolen from the French. 1t
. would appear as though the superstition
! about the need Of high priced watches was
So The diamond market is dull and feature
!. less. OF late the preferences Of the wealthy
J. In Europe for precious fancy stones, and as
yubles, sapphires, emeralds and cats-eyes,
y over diamonds has been followed In this
:" country by persons of wealth, purchases of
course being confined to veritable gems. A
tpSrfect, fine pigeon blood ruby is In fact more
) faiuable than diamond Of the same weight
All Of the fancy gems In fact are riding a
bull market. Star sapphires. distinctly fine
~ are extremely rare; SO Also Egyptian tur-
4, Quoise. Fancy stones generally fine and
= dant. New York is the great diamond CEN
" tre Of the country and receives the great bulk
e-Of importatlons. moderate number of
i songn stones st s, are imported, and IS these
8 cutters are now obtainable here. The
within the classification Of jewelry, entails
Quty, 0uO 30 prevents tno importation
Of fjewelry in which diamonds are set except
for patterns. The chief retail trade Is that
of New York, which Is followed In the order
~ named by Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, St
~ Louis and San Francisco. The leading de-
= mand In the west Is for large, fine diamonds.
= Tho wear pf diamonds by ladies In the
:, United States Is not confined, as In Europe
- - to dress occasions. The American trade
limits Its purchases to well-cut stones, and
the retail diamond dealers abroad and al
homo agree that of all purchasers Americans
'--- are most appreciatiye and critical. A cir
cumstance that facilitates assessments OF
zsyalues In this line Is that when the eyes be-
come familiarized to fine diamond, any in
% feri0r grade as to form and brillisncy can al
y once be detected.
2s'E According to an English paper tho dia
* mond supply question at Cope Colony is be
tisnsged that at present the prosperity of al
South Africa is mainly dependent on tht
.nsdlanond industry. Every week at Kimberl,
~ shout el00,0O0 10 paid away In wages alone
nsaend this sum. II is said, Is probably not IN
NJ phort Of the amount paid in the same wa,
q throughout all the rest OF the Colony.
nor WILL DIAMONDS LAST?
= b the question which excites attention ever
ls on the diamond field themselves. A Kim.
-shberly paper points to some facts which have
serious aspect There are signs that tn,
2 yalue OF the diamond Is declining. Tn,
: y following comparative table Of figures Il
= y published In Illustration of this statement.
Production Valuo for Value per
November. In carxta export. carat